Nigorizake (cloudy sake)

Nigorizake is a type of sake made by coarsely straining the moromi (fermentation mash) through a loosely woven cloth or mesh. As a result, it has a distinctive cloudy white appearance, and because rice particles remain, it has a characteristic sweetness and rice flavor. Nigorizake generally has an alcohol content similar to that of regular sake (seishu), but nigorizake labeled as seishu is always sold in a partially filtered state under the Liquor Tax Act, so it is not completely cloudy. In recent years, a style called usunigori (lightly cloudy sake), which retains only a small amount of solid rice particles, has become popular. Because of its appearance, it is sometimes called kasumizake ("haze sake"). Nigorizake is also often namazake (unpasteurized sake), so it can offer a fresh, refreshing taste. Depending on the ingredients, it comes in various types, such as Junmai and Honjozo. This can be seen as one example of the diversity of sake.